Compressor for gases.



R. A. HAYES.

GOMPRESSOR FOR GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1913.

Patented June 30, 1914,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l l. l hl HlIjl 3 COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH C0..WASH|NOTON, 5.11

R. A. HAYES.

COMPRESSOR FOR GASES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19, 1913.

Patented June 30,1911

3 SEEETSBHEET 2.

R. A. HAYES.

COMPRESSOR POE. GASES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19, 1913.

Patented June 30,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

ROBIN A. HAYES, 0F EDGBASTON, ENGLAND.

COMPRESSOR FOR GASES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBIN ARDEN HAYES, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Edgbaston, in the county of \Varwiclr, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Compressors for Gases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for effecting the compression of air and other gases through the medium of water and other liquids. 7

It is the object of the invention to provide a compressor which will operate in a simple and effective manner to compress a gas by centrifugal action of the liquid.

Further objects are to provide a rotary apparatus with channels therein which serve to pick up charges of liquid with intermediate charges of gas, the gas being compressed as it is thrown outward by the liquid in the channels, and being afterward separated from the liquid in a rotary chamber; and to provide means for utilizing some of the energy possessed by the'rotating mass of liquid while it is leaving said chamber.

Further objects of the invention, and the manner in which they are to be attained will appear from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the principal part of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 shows a continuation thereof toward the right hand end. Fig. 3 shows a partial section on the line AB of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 shows a partial section on the line CD of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a partial longitudinal section of a modified form of the apparatus, and 6 is an en larged detail view of a portion thereof in section, showing the form of recurved nozzles used. Figs. 7 to 15 inclusive are detail views showing various forms of spiral or twisted channels for use in the apparatus.

The hollow shaft 1 has its end suitably fixed to the end of a solid shaft 2, for instance by being shrunk on the reduced end of shaft 2 and secured by means of a pin 3. The two shafts so united form the main shaft of the machine, which may be driven from any suitable source of power such as a steam turbine, whose shaft is coupled to the outer end of theshaft 1 as indicated for instance in Fig. 2. The shafts 1 and 2 are carried in pedestals 4 and 5, being supported either in plain or in swivel bearings such as are indicated in pedestals 4 and 5 respectively. The swivel bearing shown is formed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 19, 1913.

Patented June 30, 1214.

Serial No. 779,886.

of a cast iron body 6 with a white metal lining 7. white metal lining communicates through channels 8 with the supply of lubricant. Forced lubrication will preferablybe used, the lubricant being supplied in any suitable way to all of the bearings. A cone 9 shrunk on to the shaft 1 and resting against a shoulder formed thereon is further secured in position by a key 10; it carries an end piece 11. Next to the cone on the shaft 1 is a sleeve 12, and next to this is the boss of another end piece 13 held by a key 19. The parts 9, 12 and 13 are all pressed together by a substantial nut 14 which is locked in position for instance by a cross pin 15. An annular member 16, preferably made of phosphor bronze, is riveted or otherwise secured on the end piece 13, and an outer shell or cylinder 17, preferably formed of steel, is held between the end members by means of a number of bolts 18, holding it tightly between stepped or flanged edges of the end members. In order further to support the shell 17 at the part where it is liable to be subjected to the greatest stress, a ring or band 20 may be shrunk on the shell at the right hand end as shown in Fig. 1. In the interior of the separating chamber formed by the shell 17 and the two end pieces 11 and 13, a number of radiating vanes 21 are arranged. There may for instance be four such vanes arranged at right angles as indicated in the sectional view, Fig, 4, the inner ends of these vanes being bent around the sleeve 12 and riveted one to another. The vanes 21 are secured at their outer edges by cutting them for a short radial distance and bendingthe flaps so formed alternately to one side and the other so as to embrace the bolts 18, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

A stationary water inlet is provided at 22 communicating with a water supply from which water can be fed to the apparatus under a constant'head which may be quite small. with an annular space inside a stationary shell 23. The water normallyfills this shell and can escape outwardly from it through openings indicated at 24 in Figs. 1 and 3, these openings being so directed that the water is discharged not radially but at a small angle to the radial direction, as indicated at the upper opening in Fig. 3, for reasons to be described hereinafter. are three sets of openings 24 in the member A groove in the center of the- The water inlet 22 communicates There 23 in the example of construction shown, each set lying in a radial plane concentric with the shaft, and there are live openings in each set spaced at equal. angular distances apart. Surrounding these three sets of openings 24 there are three sets of pipes 25 mounted in the rotating member or rotor. The pipes 25 form the channels wherein the compression of the air or gas takes place, and in the example shown there are eight pipes in each set spaced at equal angular dis tances apart in the plane of the corresponding sets of openings 2 1-. Each of the sets of pipes 25 is held at its inner end in a ring 26, the three rings shown being bolted to the end piece 11 of the rotor. The inner ends of the pipes 25 are made rectangular in section as indicated in Fig. 1, for the reason stated hereinafter. The pipes are preferably made spiral in form internally for part or the whole of their lengths, for the purpose of imparting a rotation about its own axis to each charge or plug of water as it travels up the pipes. The reason for this will be stated more fully hereinafter, but the object is to prevent as far as possible deformation or disintegration of the plugs of the water, that is to say to keep them as far as possible in the form of separate unbroken plugs completely filling the cross section of the pipes, as indicated in Fig. 3. Any suitable method may be adopted for giving this spiral form to the pipes, and for instance they may be fluted longitudinally and afterward twisted, or they may be grooved longitudinally and twisted, or spiral ribs or partitions may be inserted in the pipes. 'With the velocities of movement likely to be employed, the obliquity of the spiral will be very gradual, equivalent for instance to half a turn in the length of the pipe. The pipes are not necessarily of uniform sectional area, but they may be narrowed for instance toward their outer ends.

Figs. 7 to 15 illustrate such constructions of the pipes. Fig. 8 shows a cross section on line X-X of Fig. 7 illustrating a pipe 25 with a partition 57, inserted therein, twisted through a half turn, and suitably held as by soldering in the pipe. Fig. 10 shows a cross section on Y-Y of a pipe illustrated in Fig. 9; this pipe contracts considerably from its inlet end toward the outer end, and hence the diameter of a plug of liquid flowing through it is reduced as it moves, and the length of such a liquid plug increases. The twisted partition 58 in this case is shown only extending partway along the pipe; the velocity of rotation of the liquid will tend to increase as the pipe becomes narrower on the principle of the conservation of momentum. Fig. 11 shows the partition 58 removed from the pipe. The remaining Figs. 12 to 15 show other sections of twisted pipes which'may be used in order to secure the dc sired result, the amount of the twisting being in each case preferably about one half turn as indicated in 7.

The outer ends of the pipes 25 are secured for instance by being brazed into openings in the outer cylindrical part of the end piece 11. The pipe ends thus open intoan anular space as shown, communicating with the interior of the shell 17. The bolts 18 also pass through this space, and blocks or stay pieces 27 are also preferably inserted in the space and held by pegs 28. The stay pieces 27 are preferably formed of aluminium, and their object is to help to support the end piece 11 where it is weakened by the holes which receive the outer ends of the pipes The air to be compressed enters at 29 be tween the water inlet shell 23 and the rings 26 which carry the sets of pipes 25. The water flows out of the openings 2% and the shaft rotates at such a speed that the issuing water streams are cut by the pipe ends into plugs fitting approximately in the ends of the pipes as indicated in Fig. 8. Between each plug of water and the next a charge of air is drawn in, and the water plugs as they are thrown outward by centrifugal action, serve to compress the air imprisoned between them until the water and air are delivered together into the annular space in the shell 17 around the pipe ends. The water collects in the shell 17, forming a layer of uniform depth, the surface being normally at about the line 30, Figs. 1 and 4. The bolts 18, stay pieces 27 and vanes 21., tend to insure that the water shall continue to rotate with the shell at the same speed as the latter, and further functions of the vanes 21 will be described hereinafter. The compressed air separated from the water flows into the hollow shaft 1 through air ducts 31, and is carried away from this shaft to the interior of a gland box 32, Fig. 2. This gland box may be of any suitable known type such as is used for instance in turbine work, and it will for instance contain carbon packing inserted in the spaces between the rings 83 and the ends of the gland box. The air passing outward through ducts 3 reaches the central space 36 in the gland box 32, from which it suitably taken off through a pipe to the storage reservoir or to the place where it is to be used.

In order partially to utilize the energy possessed by the water within the shell 1?. in virtue of its rotation, this water is passed into the annular member 16 around the circumference of the end piece 13; the interior of the member 16 is divided up by vanes 37 into a number of radial channels. The water is forced inward along these channels by the pressure of the air within the shell 17, and in so doing the water gives up to the rotor a considerable portion of its enknown way as may be desired.

ergy. The water finally leaves the rotor through nozzles 36, and in so doing it impinges on the blades or acting surfaces of a simple impulse turbine wheel 38 of any suitable type. The number of nozzles 36 on the member 16, and the size or total area of the set of nozzles, can be designed to give to the water any reasonable desired velocity of exit relative to the nozzles, since the total volume of water to be passed through in a given time is known. The radial level of the water within the shell 17 will adjust itself until the pressure head at the nozzles is sufficient to discharge the said volume of water through them. The tangential Velocity of the water in the plane of rotation is utilized in driving the impulse wheel 38. The water falls almost dead to the bottom of the sta tionary casing 39 surrounding the impulse wheel, after it has passed over or through this latter. The water flows away from the casing 39 through an outlet opening a0, and some or all of it may be used over again in the apparatus after being raised again to the pressure head required at the inlet end and purified, cleaned and cooled if necessary. The same water may if desired, be utilized for further purposes as mentioned hereinafter, or if a large supply is available at the required pressure it may be most convenient to let the water run ofi to waste.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the shell 17 has its end piece formed with recurved nozzles 52 therein near to the circumference, these nozzles being shaped approximately as indicated in Fig. 6 so that while the shell rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6, the liquid issuing through these nozzles will flow out in streams which are backwardly directed relative to the direction of movement; hence the liquid will have a less tangential velocity in the direction of movement than that of the nozzles, and the reduction in velocity corresponds with a transference of energy from the liquid to the rotating shell as will be well understood. The issuing liquid may still act upon a turbine disk such as 38, Fig. 1, or its energy may be utilized in any other In the con struction of Fig. 5, a casing 53 is arranged over the outlets 52 inside the shell 17, and a radial partition wall 54 is arranged inside the casing 53. The liquid in order to pass out must enter the casing 53 through openings at 55 and must pass inwardly toward the axis, around the inner edge of the parti tion 5%, and outwardly again beyond the same in order to reach the nozzles 52. Walls 56, like the walls 37, Fig. 1, are arranged at convenient intervals in the space inside the casing 53 in order to prevent rotation of the liquid relatively to the shell 17 in passing through the casing 53 to the nozzles 52. The object of this construction is to provide a water seal which will retain the liquid in the shell 17 at a suitable level if the supply is cut off at any time, and will prevent escape of the compressed gas inside said shell so long as the rotation thereof is maintained.

In the example of construction shown in Figs. 1 to at, in order to insure that the impulse wheel 38 shall rotate at the desired speed, that is to say in this case at about half the speed of rotation of the main rotor, a gear is provided connecting the impulse wheel to the shaft 2. The disk or spider 41 carrying the impulse wheel 38 rotates on a bush l2 around, the shaft, and has its boss extended and cut to form a gear wheel 44. A counter-shaft l3 supported in the pedestal 5 beneath the shaft 2 has keyed on it a gear wheel 45 meshing with the wheel at, and another gear wheel 4-6 meshing with a wheel 47 keyed on the reduced end of the shaft 2. All the gear wheels 4ll l7 are preferably formed with double helical teeth, and are lubricated according to any of the wellknown practices, such as by directing a jet of oil on to the teeth of the wheels where they mesh together. The oil supplied to the bearing of the shaft 2 and the gearing is drained off from the pedestal 5 through openings as and l9 communicating through suitable pipes with the usual oil well. The oil escaping from the bearings in the pedestal 4 at the other end of the apparatus is similarly received inthe casing at the top of the pedestal and is run out through drains 4-8 and 49 into and away from this pedestal. Oil throwers 50 may be shrunk on to the shaft 1, and are arranged to prevent creeping of the oil along the shaft from the hearing at the right hand end.

In order to make the apparatus self-controlling, the air reservoir (not shown) into which the air is delivered from the gland box 32 may be connected to an automatic controlling mechanism of a. known type which will come into operation when a predetermined pressure is exceeded and will cause the supply of water to the inlet 22 to be out off completely from its full value direotly this pressure is reached. The compressed air may cause this to take place directly, or it may act through some relay device as will be well understod. vVhen the pressure falls again to a point a little below the normal pressure, this device will operate automatically to turn on the suply of water again. Devices of this-character are well understood and can readily be obtained to suit such a purpose as this. This device is therefore not illustrated or further described here. The bore of the pipes '25 will in general be found to lie within certain limits, the upper limit being settled by the difficulty in maintaining the plug formation of the water, while the lower limit is settled by considerations of friction. loss in the channels, and ex pense of construction. Between these limits any size of channel may be assumed provided such size lends itself conveniently to actual construction. In order that the ends of the pipes 25 as they rush past the streams of water issuing from the outlets 2 t, may pick up the water in suitably shaped plugs which will. as nearly as possible fill out the pipes immediately. it is desirable that the openings and also the inlet ends of the pipes 25, should be approximately rectangular. lit is further desirable from similar considerations that the area of cross section of each pipe at its inlet end should be larger than that for the rest of its length. As the velocity of rotation with the shell 17 is imparted to the plugs of water principally by the rear walls of the pipes there is a tendency for the plugs of water to spread themselves over the rear walls, and even to leave a space against the opposite or leading walls of the pipes through which the air might escape backyard. it is in order to avoid this that I prefer to give the pipes a spiral form as already described. The rotating motion given to the plugs by the spiral formation will tend to keep them thrown against the walls of the pipes and to prevent disin tegration or deformation of the plugs to any serious extent.

The arrangement of the outlets 2a in sets is to suit the pipes which are similarly arranged "tor constructional convenience only. The angles relative to the circumferential direction at which the pipes 25 and the outlets er are inclined, are arranged to be such that plugs of water enter the pipe channels as far as possible without shock due to any abrupt change of form or motion. The number of pipes 25 to be spaced equally around each set is estimated from the speed of rotation and the speed, at which the water issues from the outlets 24-, being so chosen that the interval which elapses between the scooping up of two successive plugs is such that each stream of water is divided accurately into plugs of the required size, and does not crowd up against the rings 26 supporting the pipes 25.

It may be noted here that any water which fails to be scooped up directly by the pipes, as for instance when starting or stopping the supply of water, is retained within the rings 26 by means of a flange 51 attached thereto Only a thin film of water could form within the rings 26, as such water would flow away immediately into the pipes as will be seen clearly from Fig. 8.

Turning now to the rotatin chamber with which the pipes 25 communicate. the principal action which takes place inside the shell 17 will be understood from what has been said already with very little further explanation. The uses of the vanes 21 have not yet been considered in detail however. Firstly, the energy of rotation of the mass of air is largely given up to the vanes 21 the air moves inward from the outer circumference toward the center of the aparatus, the action being similar to that already described in reference to the vanes 37. Secondly, the steady reduction in linear velocity of the air effected by the vanes 21 prevents the forma tion of serious eddies, in the air, and reduces the inevitable small loss of pressure due to the fact that the air is moving inwardly against the action of centrifugal force. Thirdly, any particles of water entrained with, the air tend to be thrown against the vanes 21, and are then thrown out-ward over the surface of these vanes by centrifugal action. Hence, the air is led away in a. reasonably dry condition.

The length of the radial channels formed in the annular member 16 by the vanes or partitions 37, when such channels are used, is limited by the fact that the radial distance from the nozzles 36 to the normal surface 30 of the rotating mass of water in the shell 17 must be such that the pressure head due to this difiierence of level at the speed of rotation of the apparatus sutices to eject the water through the ring of nozzles 36. The velocity of ejection may be comparatively small. The principal part of the energy still possessed by the issuing water due to its rotation, and this may be used e'l'liciently in driving the impulse wheel as already stated. It is to be noted that the ideal speed of rotation of the impulse wheel 38 for eflieient working may be secured absolutely by the gearing as already explained. This gearing, however, is by no means an essential feature, as the ei'iergy imparted to the impulse wheel can be utilized in many other ways. For example the impulse wheel might drive a dynamo, or otherwise be utilized for any suitable purpose for which power would in general be required from a prime mover. Instead of using an impulse wheel such as has been referred to, any suitably known form of water turbine or the like might be used. In some instances the water may economically form part of a circulation system of an engine, being used for instance for condensing Or cooling purposes after leaving the compressor, and then cooled or admixed with fresh water before being used again in the compressor.

The apparatus may be made to operate with any suitable liquid other than water, and it will compress any gas which is in troduced into the space around the nozzle member .23. Apparatus working on the principal above explained may be adapted for use not only in compressing air or gas from atmospheric pressure to a higher pressure, but also for compressing up to atmospheric pressure or a higher pressure from a pressure below atmospheric. Hence, of course the apparatus can be used for exhausting air or gas from closed vessels. *herever compression is referred to in the specification and the claims which follow, it is to be understood that it covers compression from and to any pressure for which such an apparatus can be designed. Similarly, the words water and air are to be read as including also any suitable liquid or any gas. The apparatus can be designed to run at speeds which may vary greatly, from say a few hundred to lOOO revolutions per minute. The power required to run the machine during the governing, i. a. when running light while no compression is taking place'and no water is being admitted, is very small indeed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A rotary compressor for gasescomprising a shell adapted to be rotated and means for carrying the same. means for supplying a stream of liquid adjacent to said shell at one end thereof, said stream of liquid being directed to pass through an annular space occupied by the gas to be compressed, a channel attached to said shell and communicating therewith at its outer end, said chan nel extending inwardly toward the axis of the shell and having its inner open end so disposed as to cut through the stream of liquid in said annular space when rotated, and so directed that the axis of the channel at the said inner end is substantially at right angles to the stream of liquid at the moment of cutting the same, whereby the circumferential velocity of the said end relative to the stream of liquid, is directly utilized in compressing gas within the said channel, means for separating the gas from the liquid within the rotating shell, and for discharging the gas and the liquid separately from said shell.

2. A rotary compressor for gases comprising a shell adapted to be rotated and means for supporting the same, means for supplying a stream of liquid adjacent to said shell, said stream of liquid being directed topass through an annular space occupied by the gas to be compressed, a channel communicating at its outer end with said shell and having also an aperture formed at its inner end to cut the stream of liquid as the apparatus is rotated, the bore of said channel being of a section other than smooth circular and being spiral in form whereby charges of liquid taken in to the channel are given a movement of rotation therein as they are thrown along the channel owing to the rotational movement thereof, while charges of gas from the space around the stream of liquid. are compressed between the liquid charges and delivered to the said shell.

3. A rotary compressor for gases compris ing a shelladapted to be rotated, and means for supporting the same, a nozzle, and means for supplying liquid thereto, said nozzle beingdirected to throw out a radiating stream of liquid through an annular space occupied by the gas to be compressed, a channel communicating with said shell and having its inner open end formed to cut through the radiating stream of liquid intermittently as the apparatus is rotated, said inner open end being so directed that its axis is substantially at right angles to the stream of liquid at the moment of cutting the same, whereby charges of the gas from the annular space are taken into the channel between charges of liquid in the interval between the periods of cutting through the stream, and the alternate charges of liquid and gas are thrown outward in said channel partly by the velocity of the inner end of the channel relative to the liquid stream, and partly by centrifugal action, and delivered to said shell.

4. A rotary compressor for gases comprising a shell adapted to be rotated and means for carrying the same, a plurality of channels each communicating at one end with the interior of the shell near to its circumference, and having their other ends opening inwardly nearer to the axis of rotation, means for delivering a plurality of streams of liquid separated by wide angular spaces occupied by the gas to be compressed, said streams crossing the path of the inner ends of said channels, which ends are so directed that the velocity of the liquid relatively to that of the channels when the channel ends meet the liquid, shall be substantially along the axis of the channels at said inner ends, whereby said channels are caused to take in charges of the gas surrounding the liquid between each charge of liquid and the next, these alternate charges of liquid and gas being thrown outward in the channels partly by the velocity of the inner ends of the channelsrelative to the liquid streams, and partly by centrifugal action, and delivered to the shell, and means associated with said shell for carrying away separately the liquid and the compressed gas delivered thereto.

5. A rotary compressor for gases comprising a shell adapted to be rotated and means for carrying the same, a plurality of channels communicating at one end with the interior of the shell near to its circumference, and formed with apertures at points nearer to the axis of rotation, the bores of said channels being of a section other than smooth circular, and spiral in form, means for delivering a plurality of streams of liquid separated by wide angular spaces occuthe shell, and means associated with said;

shell for carrying away separately the liquid and the compressed gas delivered thereto.

6. A gas compressor comprising a number of radiating channels, each 01 said channels having a bore whose section is other than smooth circular and is made spiral in form whereby a spirally twisted passage is provided, means for delivering charges of liquid at a. considerable velocity relative to the said channels, whereby the charges ot liquid are caused to pass through said channels and to rotate in the interior thereof owing to their spiral form, while charges of gas from the space around the liquid are drawn in between the charges of liquid, and means in connection with the delivery ends of the channels for receiving the gas and liquid and separating the one from the other.

7. In a gas compressor the combination of a rotary shell with radiating channels forming a part thereof and means for delivering a liquid and a gas thereto, whereby the gas is compressed by the liquid it is thrown outward in the channels, means for removing the gas from the shell at the central part thereof, and nozzles for discharging the liquid from the shell, said nozzles being oi? a form such that the liquid in being discharged through them imparts some of its energy of motion to the rotating shell carrying the nozzles.

8. In gas compressor the combination of a rotary shell. with radiating channels forming a part thereof and means for delivering a liquid and a gas thereto, whereby the gas is compressed by the liquid as it is thrown outward in the channels, means for removing the gas from the shell at the central part thereof, nozzles for discharging the liquid from the shell, and a turbine member adapted to receive the liquid discharged from said nozzles and to be driven by said liquid.

9. In a gas compressor the combination of a rotary shell with radiating channels forming a part thereof, and means for delivering a liquid and a gas thereto, whereby the gas is compressed by the liquid as it is thrown outward in the channels, means for removing the gas from the shell at the central part thereof, nozzles for discharging the liquid from the shell, a turbine member adapted to receive the liquid discharged from said nozzles and to be driven by said liquid, and gearing operatively connecting said turbine member to the shell.

10. A rotary compressor for gases comprising a shell adapted to be rotated, and means for supporting the same, a plurality of channels attached to said rotary shell, and means for delivering separate charges of liquid with intermediate charges of gas successively to the channels as the shell rotates, said channels being of a twisted form such that the charges of liquid passing through the channels are given a movement of rotation therein, means for utilizing some of the energy of-the liquid as it is being discharged from the shell and means for carrying away the gas at the central part of the shell.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of July 1913 in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBIN A. HAYES.

lVitnesses HUBERT A. GILL, HENRY WILLIAM BLAKE.

Gopies of. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

